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4With advent of awareness of human rights (especially women rights) womenemancipation and economic setbacks due to overpopulation, some kind ofrestrictions or control an early marriage started. Let us thrown right to what has beenhappening in Tanzania.During pre Colonial, Tanganyika used customary law in marriage. This of coursesupported early marriage as well as polygamy. The Arabs introduced Islamic religionin the context of Islam, where polygamy is allowed. The Germans arrived in the1880’s.Their Government accepted customary laws as regard to marriage.The British introduced the laws which restricted marriage to monogamy. Theyenacted other laws which regulated marriage and divorce for various groups such asthe Asians and Africans, Christians and non Christians.During independent Tanganyika, the 1963 local customary declaration order codifiedthe customary laws. However this did not change the Christian and Islamic marriagelaws. Customary laws were practiced mostly in rural area but not in urban areaswhere there were tribal mixtures.The Law recognizes both polygamy and monogamy. According to the Act a girl canget married at the age of 14 and above with the consent of her parents or guardians.Of course some amendments have been carried out on this Act in 1996, 1998, 1999and 2002 but there are still some controversies. These controversies arise due to

5cultural and religious differences, level of education and information accessibility aswell as psychological disposition of the people.Generally most girls become sexually active during adolescence. The rates arehighest in several countries of sub Sahara Africa where girls aged between 16 and 19are sexually active, thus leading millions of adolescents to have off-spring.In Latin America and Caribbean about one third of women population give birthbefore the age of 20.Likewise in Sub-Saharan Africa more than half of women givebirth before the age of 20.Early marriage and the subsequent forced marriages aredue to outdated customs, culture and taboos. Frankly speaking some tribal culturesand norms encourage girls’ involvement in prostitution at a tender age.In Tanzania incidences of early marriage and early pregnancies are prevalent in areassuch as Ruvuma, Mara, Mbeya, Singida, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar es salaam,Morogoro, Lindi, Mtwara and Coastal Region.The other reasons that encourage the young girls to be involved in early marriage aresocio-economic pressure on the party of the parents. The latter force their children todrop out of school in order to earn a living on their own because they cannot takecare of them.In 1978 an Anglican Clergyman (priest) Thomas Mathus issued a paper onpopulation growth and its effects. In it he pointed out that while the population was

6increasing with giant steps, economic growth was in small steps. So there would beso many people while resources are limited. For him one of the courses forpopulation boom was early marriages. He praises the natural calamities such asfamine, floods and drought as blessings in disguise to man because they help to beatover population.1.2Statement of the problemDespite being prevalent with profound impacts, child marriage in Tanzania attractslimited attention yet it has become a serious problem in most parts of the countryparticularly in rural areas that is Nyakitonto, Nyachenda, Nyamnyusi and BuhoroMany girls especially with 14 and 15 years are forced into marriage by parents orguardians or relatives therefore they facing a lot of problems [Children DignityForum, 2010]. For instance, those young female who forced to enter into earlymarriage does not able to cope with marriage life, because their age does not allowthem to handle well the family matters. Adolescent mothers are also notable toreading the different gestures of their child such as illness, hunger, or pain. This putsboth the mother and the child in poor health. Child marriages also deny girls anopportunity for education and decision making.The parents\ guardians living in a poverty are often tempted to marry off their younggirls to obtains bride price in which they believe will relieve them from the economichardship, but in reality parents\ guardians are not familiar on the practice of younggirls marriage and their impact of their health and welfare of young females.

7Furthermore some society does not have a sufficient knowledge on the impact ofchild marriage that is why they are forcing their young girls to enter into earlymarriage. In reality, child marriage subjects a young girl to sexual activities at thetender age in which they are not physically mature, also young mothers face higherrisks during pregnancies including complications such as heavy bleeding, fistulainfection, anemia and enclampsia, which contribute to higher mortality rate of bothmother and a child [Children Dignity Forum, 2010].In Tanzania, the system of marriage as guided by Marriage Act [1971] containsloopholes that create ambiguity concerning of child marriages. For example, on theone hand it puts a limit on the acceptable age of marriage, while on the other hand itgives the parents the power of consent on marriage decisions. This was observedunder S. 13 of the Law of Marriage Act, which states that “no person shall marrywho, being male, has not attained the apparent age of eighteen years or beingfemale, has not attained the apparent age of fifteen years”.Hence a child marriage are usually legitimized by national laws, for instant [Marriage Act 1971] regardless of whether the child has an opportunity or is able togive full and informed consent, rendered many young girls to suffer severe physical,economic, biological, social and psychological problems, and also contravene severalinternational human rights instruments

81.3Research objectives1.3. 1 The general objective:The general objective of this proposed study was to investigate about social, culturaland economic factors contributing to early marriage among teenagers in KasuluDistrict Council.1.3.2Specific objectives:The specific Objective of this proposed study were:i) To examine social factors contributing to early marriage among teenagers inKasuludistrict Council.ii) To analyze cultural factors contributing to early marriage among teenagers.iii) To explore economic factors contributing to early marriage among teenagers.1.4Research hypothesisH1 There was significant relationship between social factors and early marriageamong teenagers. To test this, the following variables were used. Inadequate sex education. Inadequate social control in sexual matters. The distance between parents and children. Peer pressure. Environment influences. Conformity. Prejudice Parents conflicts

9 Frustration. Influence of mass media.H2 There was significant relationship between cultural related factors and earlymarriage among teenagers in Kasulu District Council.To test this, the following variables were studied; Lack of Transparence. Negative attitude on Contraceptive. Shame or shyness. Lack of access to information. Inadequate parental care. Inadequate socialization in family and community. Traditional milestones.H3 There was significant relationship between economic related factors and earlymarriage among teenagers.To test these following variables were studied Meager economic resource. Unemployment Prostitution Globalization Lack of Credit facilities.

101.5 Significance of the studyThe findings of this study and recommendations are an eye opener to parents to helpthem abandon early marriage among young girls. The findings help the Ministryconcerned to come out with proper policy strategies to overcome the problem. Theresearch also is adding new knowledge on the existing one on early marriage amongyoung girls.1.6Limitation of the studyThere are some hurdles which attempted to hinder this study to be conductedeffectively, these were:-ResourcesFinancial ResourcesFinancial resources were the major obstacle to make the study to be easilyimplemented. The researcher was self – sponsored, and thus depended upon hismeager salary.Time ResourceThe time required to accomplish the research work was too short and this made theresearcher to focus on only one district in order to meet the time allocated.Job Roles and ResponsibilitiesA researcher is a Divisional Officer and at the same time a student of MSC-HRM atthe Open University of Tanzania. When conducting research and writing dissertation

11she was also supposed to perform her daily responsibilities which poses a lot ofchallenges to her.IlliteracySome of the respondents may have proper information about the study but they hideit because they do not understand the importance of the exercise.1.7Study delimitationThe study were carried out in Kigoma region at Kasulu District specifically in fivewards of Kasulu rural which are Nyakitonto, Buhoro, Nyachenda, Kitagata andNyamnyusi .

12CHAPTER TWOLITERATURE REVIEW2.1IntroductionThis chapter presents the reviewed literature from other scholars and researchersrelated to this Study of the factor which contribute to early marriage among teenagersin rural areas.The term “literature” refers to the analysis of text books or manuscripts. Althoughmany people rightly associate literature with novels and poetry (fiction), in researchthe term is more specific. In terms of a literature review, the term literature (non –fiction) means the works the researcher consulted in order to understand andinvestigate the research problem.A literature review therefore is an account of what has been published on a topic byaccredited, scholars and researchers. It is a critical look at the existing research that issignificant to the work that the researcher will be carrying out. It involves examiningdocument such as, books, magazine journals and dissertation that have a bearing onthe study being conducted.Conceptual FrameworkThe Law of the child Act 2009 defines a child to be a person below the age ofeighteen under section 13. The law of the Child Act is a supreme law for theprotection of children rights, however it was violated by several legislations because

13the definition of child in Tanzania is not inimitable. In Tanzania the definition of achild is provided diversely according to the context and purpose that certain statutesseek to achieve.For instance, the Employment and Labour Relations Act (2004) defines a “child” asa person under the age of 14 years; provided that for the employment of hazardoussectors, a child means a person under the age of 18 years.In addition, the Law of Marriage Act of 1971 under Section 2(1) defines a child as“who has not attained the age of 18 years” and the same statute under Section 13(1),permits marriage of young girls who have attained 15 years with consent of parentsand court. But section 4(1) of the Law of child Act resembles with InternationalInstruments that is:Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights and Welfare of the Child of[1989] defines a child as “every human being below the age of 18 years”. AlsoArticle 2 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child of [1990]states that “For the purpose of this Charter, a child means a human being below theage of 18 years” The actual meaning of the articles was that, the child should beprotected at least up to the age of 18.Thus why the articles of the Conventionsremained relatively open. Furthermore Article 24 of the ICCPR( 1966) recognizesthe right of every child, without any discrimination, to receive from his/her family,society and the state the protection required by his or her status as “a minor” So it isinternationally recognized that children are those human beings below 18 years old.

14For the purpose of this research this is the concept which is adopted for the meaningof early marriage. Basically early marriage can also be regarded as forced marriagebecause it is conducted without a valid consent of one or both sides.2.1.1 Theoretical Literature review:A theoretical frame work is a collection interrelated ideas based on theories. It is areasoned set of proposition, which are derived from and supported by data or evidence.A theoretical framework accounts for or explains phenomena. It attempts to clarifywhy things are the way they are based on theories. A theoretical framework is ageneral set of assumptions about the nature of phenomena. (Kombo and Tromp,2006:56)2.1.1.1 Socio-cultural and religious valuesIn communities where child marriage is prevalent, there is strong social pressure onfamilies to conform. Failure to conform can often result in ridicule, disapproval orfamily shame. Invariably, local perceptions on the ideal age for marriage, the desirefor submissive wives, extended family patterns and other customary requirements,are all enshrined in local customs or religious norms. In many contexts childmarriage is legitimized by patriarchy, and related family structures, which ensure thatmarriage transfers a father’s ro

marriage and informal unions in which a girl lives with a partner as if married before age of 18,Early marriage also known as child marriage is defined as "any marriage carried out below the age of18 years before the girl is physically, physiologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities of marriage and child bearing "Child on the